[reststop]

Ok, I admit I'm somewhat new to trying intel hardware for Mac OSX.
All my other computers are Mac or Unix/Solaris/Linux, and the couple of PCs around the house are P-III or older, most running Linux or sitting idle on a shelf ;-)

So, I don't have a Windows license, and that's fine.

I'm going to order a Dell Mini 9 today, probably from the outlet, as a 1G/16G/802.11g/BT/1.3MPcamera can be got for about $270 (2 listed), and buying the cheapest Mac Mini is still in the $500+ range (did not do an extensive price check; they may have some cheaper after the recent new intro). [Unless someone tells me I can get a sweeter deal!]

Anyway, the 2 units I found listed at the Dell outlet, plus a replacement 2G memory upgrade for $30, seems the way to go. Even with spending $30 on memory, and another $30 for a 16GB SDHD card, it's still waaaayyyy cheaper then the alternatives.

However, as an intel box, and things like parallels, etc., it seems I ought to hang on to the installed Windows, so I can legally use it, for those chances/cases where I've considered running SoftPC/VirtualPC/etc.

That said, what is the best and fasted way to save it? I know that Dell is notorious for only supplying a recovery disk, and not a full-install disk. I figure I could get a 16 GB SDHD card and there ought to be some Windows utility to make a copy of the internal 16 GB SSD to the SDHD card... but then I'll also want to do whatever I need to to be able to bring up a Windows window inside MacOS X, and use the installed Windows license.

And yes, I know it is only XP Home editon.... but for a Mac expert, any Windows is about the same ;-)

Also, is the SSD something that can be popped out and replaced like an SDHD card ? Might be worth it to just do that.
Then I could swap it back in if I ever wanted to access the Windows drive ;-(

-Carl

[ultralow]

This might help: http://mydellmini.com/forum/backing-...st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[reststop]

Thanks Ultralow, good information. I'll look into it further once my order is placed.

I also want to know if there's anything available that comes with the standard distribution, as I don't want to muck things up with having to download and install a bunch of things... or even make the box "internet ready". I'm happy to d/l things using my Mac, and then using a shared disk or the web server running on my Mac laptop, as the pickup point. (I don't like using an insecure OS like windows to access the big bad internet). It has been such a time saver, NOT to have to run virus scans on a daily basis, as I had to with my Win 95/98/NT laptops for work.

Thanks.

[CyG]

The Mini does come with a full install disc of "Windows XP Service Pack 3 for Ultra Low Cost PCs."

[reststop]

Thanks Cyg, that's good to know! I just had a bad experience one time with a client who had Dell systems
and had to do a re-install of their systems and the recovery disk Dell provided DID NOT allow them to rebuild
the system, because drivers for things like the modem were missing. No dialup, no way to download current drivers.

The two listings I looked at also came with Microsoft Works as a listed software upgrade.

I guess it's the poor man's Office... I wonder if it can open any of the Office file formats?
(I would hope there's a Works installation disk included as well, but who knows.
Maybe just the activation codes and then you download everything from the net/Windows Live).

I just want to be able to put it all back the way it came, just in case I want to be able to sell the system later...
although maybe selling a system already built with Mac OS X will fetch a better price !!!

-Carl

[cbdudley]

If you buy a Dell Mini with Microsoft Works, a CD is included so that you can reinstall it later.

MS Works will not open Microsoft Office documents. However, there is a converter available that will allow Office to open files created in Works. In other words, it is basically worthless.

As a side note, the Wordpad program that was included with Windows 98, 2000 and XP used to be able to open Microsoft Word documents. However, the version supplied with Vista (and I assume with Win7) does not.

There is a much better alternative to all of this nonsense - it's called OpenOffice. Version 3 works well, is highly compatible with Office in both directions, and 100% Microsoft-free.

[reststop]

Thanks again! This group is great.

I was more concerned if I was to resell the unit for any reason. I've used MS-Works long long ago, under Mac OS 6.0.3. I'm sure it's been updated since then. I'm familiar with Open Office, and I also have Apple's iWork package which can open most Office programs.

As I'm primarily going to be using the Dell Mini for Mac OSX development, I probably won't ever use 90% of the windows software. Although I do have several *.pst files from saved email from several years ago, that I might want to pull info from from the Windows edition, so my secondary goal is to figure out how to dual-boot, or to bring up a Windows window on my Mac OS X desktop :-)

Cheers.

-Carl

[GearheadGeek]

Originally Posted by reststop

Thanks Ultralow, good information. I'll look into it further once my order is placed.

I also want to know if there's anything available that comes with the standard distribution, as I don't want to muck things up with having to download and install a bunch of things... or even make the box "internet ready". I'm happy to d/l things using my Mac, and then using a shared disk or the web server running on my Mac laptop, as the pickup point. (I don't like using an insecure OS like windows to access the big bad internet). It has been such a time saver, NOT to have to run virus scans on a daily basis, as I had to with my Win 95/98/NT laptops for work.

Thanks.

Perhaps you're just trying to be "funny" but if you're any kind of expert in modern computers, you'd know that the only significant initial dangers to an XP computer that's on the private side of a router exists between the keyboard and the chair. If you boot a clean, unsecured XP machine inside your home network populated only with macs and unix machines you'll have plenty of time to turn on the Windows firewall and update the OS before you have any exposure to viruses and such. Security through obscurity only works while your OS is still obscure, so you'd best hope not too many people get on the OSX bandwagon.

As to having to "run virus scans on a daily basis" if you have relatively decent antivirus software (even the free ones work pretty well these days) with filesystem and email protection, a weekly scan is probably more than sufficient, and a computer expert should be able to figure out how to make that run on a scheduled basis when he's not using the machine, thereby avoiding "wasting" any time.

[reststop]

Ah Yes! I was being a little "funny" as far as security on XP, and I am behind a simple router firewall.

However, my last longtime PC usage was with W95 which crashed or needed a reboot every day, and thus ran the virus scan every day. When I switched to NT4 for my last year at that job, I only rebooted when I needed to, and often it was only when the mouse driver went crazy which usually took 2-4 weeks. Other than helping friends with PCs, I have not really used XP personally in any form other than to install it and see if it boots.

What all that means is that I know the Unix/Linux and Mac systems much much better and know where to find and download from safe sites for what I need. I'm not so sure I can trust similar but unused (by me) sites for the PC, due to the vulnerabilities that the Windows platform has, and my LACK of experience in protecting a Windows machine. So, my preference is in using stock tools that come with the box, if they can do a good job, and obtaining the best open source products that can do a better job.

Assuming I may actually drop into Windows mode for some things, although I suspect it will be mostly for testing web sites and CSS formatting for IE more than any other reason, I wanted to save as pristine a copy of the SSD as possible, although a copy that contains all the backup and restore utilities is safe enough and better in the long run.

An no flame wars here. I admit I do not know the ins and outs of XP and later Windows systems. Once Apple moved on from OS 9 to OS X built on Darwin, I've had no need to venture forth into Micro$oft land as all the tools and applications I wanted to use were available, except for IE, which M$ dropped Mac support on at the end of 2006. And from my experiences, I have had fewer problems, and fewer headaches with both hardware and software. Your mileage and preferences may be different, and that's fine.

Assuming the switch to OS X on the Dell Mini 9 works as flawless as reported, I will be quite happy.
I will also be happy to relate any experiences I have with my Mini 9 on the forum.
It is supposed to arrive on Wednesday!!! I just picked up 3 4GB USB flash drives at Costco for $35, so I'm all set.